'A New Deal for Artists' offers a fresh look at the Great Depression

Starting June 2, visitors to the Minnesota History Center will get a fresh look at the United States during the Great Depression.

The History Center is hosting "1934: A New Deal for Artists," a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The exhibit features 56 paintings created across the country as part of the Public Works Art Project.

During the depths of the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration employed millions of people to carry out public works projects as part of its New Deal programs. The art program put people to work by paying them to produce artwork that could be used in public buildings. Artists were asked to depict "the American Scene."

The program lasted less than a year, but resulted in thousands of images of 1934 America, creating a visual record of the country at a moment in time.

Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer visited the exhibit with Brian Szott, Acting Head of Collections at the Minnesota History Center.

The exhibit runs through Sept. 30.

Gallery

A new exhibit, called "1934: A New Deal for Artists," will open Saturday, June 2, 2012 at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul. It features 56 paintings from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, including a few from Minnesota artists.MPR Photo/Jennifer SimonsonView full galleryNew Deal-era art in the Minnesota History Center storeroom Wednesday, May 30, 2012. The museum is hosting a56-painting traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian American Art Museum called "1934: A New Deal for Artists," which opens June 2, 2012.MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson"Archer Daniels Midland Elevator," 1933-1934, oil on canvas, by Arnold Ness Klagstad. Part of "1934: A New Deal for Artists," on view June 2 to Sept. 30, 2012 at the Minnesota History Center.Courtesy Minnesota Historical Society"Skating in Central Park," 1934, oil on canvas, by Agnes Tait. Part of "1934: A New Deal for Artists," on view June 2 to Sept. 30, 2012 at the Minnesota History Center.Courtesy Minnesota Historical Society"Festival," 1933-1934, oil on canvas mounted on fiberboard, by Daniel Celentano. Part of "1934: A New Deal for Artists," on view June 2 to Sept. 30, 2012 at the Minnesota History Center.Courtesy Minnesota Historical Society"Homeward Bound," 1933-1934, oil on canvas, E. Martin Hennings. Part of "1934: A New Deal for Artists," on view June 2 to Sept. 30, 2012 at the Minnesota History Center.Courtesy Minnesota Historical Socirty"Filling the Ice House," 1934, oil on canvas, by Harry Gottlieb. Part of "1934: A New Deal for Artists," on view June 2 to Sept. 30, 2012 at the Minnesota History Center.Courtesy Minnesota Historical Society"Northern Minnesota Mine," 1934, oil on canvas, by E. Dewey Albinson. Part of "1934: A New Deal for Artists," on view June 2 to Sept. 30, 2012 at the Minnesota History Center.Courtesy Minnesota Historical Society"Minnesota Highway," 1933-1934, oil on canvas, by Erle Loran. Part of "1934: A New Deal for Artists," on view June 2 to Sept. 30, 2012 at the Minnesota History Center.Courtesy Minnesota Historical Society"Radio Broadcast," 1933-1934, oil on canvas, by Julia Eckel. Part of "1934: A New Deal for Artists," on view June 2 to Sept. 30, 2012 at the Minnesota History Center.Courtesy Minnesota Historical Society"Scar'd," by Bob Brown. Part of "1934: A New Deal for Artists," on view June 2 to Sept. 30, 2012 at the Minnesota History Center.Courtesy Minnesota Historical So/Minnesota Historical Society"Workers," by Dorothea Lau. Part of "1934: A New Deal for Artists," on view June 2 to Sept. 30, 2012 at the Minnesota History Center.Courtesy Minnesota Historical So/Minnesota Historical SocietyMinnesota History Center art curator Brian Szott, center, talks with Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer about the museum's collection of New Deal-era art Wednesday, May 30, 2012 in the basement storeroom.MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson